Seed dispenser and conveyance system for agricultural machinery

ABSTRACT

A seed dispenser and conveyance system for agricultural machinery that encompasses a circular structural base ( 20 ) with lid ( 22 ), and an angled vertical base ( 21 ) with lid ( 23 ), on the upper part of the base ( 20 ) presenting a seed box ( 30 ), a vacuum turbine ( 40 ) and a cut disk ( 50 ), with the system activated by a bar ( 223 ) and gear ( 222 ) which rotate the selection disk (V 1 ) in a clockwise movement, transmitting the movement to the hollowed gears (B 1,  C 1,  D 1  and E 1 ) with gaps that convey the seed ( 60 ) to the seeding ramp ( 211 ), producing synchronized movements in opposed ways, uniformly conveying the seeds and not being subject to trepidation in the seeding line or any type of lateral, frontal and rear inclination, thus reducing the seed variation coefficient in the seeding line.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention describes a seed dispenser and conveyance systemfor agricultural machinery. More specifically, it encompasses a systemof hollowed gears with curved, square, oblique or rectangularpositioners between its gaps, which transport the seeds from theselection system to the seeding groves, producing synchronized movementsin opposite directions, uniformly conveying the seeds, not being subjectto trepidation in the seeding line or to any type of lateral, frontal orrear inclination, besides maintaining the correct distance until theseeding groves, reducing the seed variation coefficient in the seedingline.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

During the sowing process, it is well known that seed quality anddistribution in the soil are paramount for a good performance. It isestimated that, for each failure percentage during sowing (dig with noseed), or for each percentage of “double” seeding (two seeds per dig)there is a 3.3% loss in productivity.

Furthermore, there is a greater loss due to the irregular distancing ofthe seeds, that is, the variation coefficient (VC) of the distancingbetween seeds, resulting in a productivity loss of 1.5 to 3 bags perhectare for each 10% variation of the VC.

Nowadays, the seeders are composed of a seed conveyor from the selectionsystem to the seeding groove. The seed is transported from the conveyortube to the internal system, free-falling from an average height ofseven hundred millimeters until the seeding groove. This system, besidesproviding uneven distribution and high variation coefficient due to thedisorderly fall of seeds, does not present any regulation device tocontrol the deposit of seeds, and may also have sensors in the center ofthe conveyor tube that prevent the seed from sliding straightforwardlyin the seeding groves, resulting in an uneven deposit.

These systems operate with a variation of the variation coefficient (VC)from 30% to 80%, presenting a productivity loss of 4.5 to 25 bags perhectare.

Therefore, the present invention is a seed dispenser and conveyancesystem for agricultural machinery developed with a set of hollowed gearsand curved, square, oblique or rectangular positioners between its gapswhich, through synchronized counter-clockwise and clockwise movements,regulate the fall of seeds in the seeding line, reducing to almost zerothe variation coefficient, since it places the seeds in the correctspaces, minimizing the uneven distribution, eliminating bounce andcontributing to the improvement of productivity per hectare.

Furthermore, the gears prevent obstruction for being grooved or hollowedand cleaned by the scrapers or ejectors, being able to stand anyascending, descending or lateral movement of the seeder withoutaffecting the precision of the system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 presents a perspective frontal view of the seed dispenser andconveyance system in agricultural machinery.

FIG. 2 presents a posterior view of the seed dispenser and conveyancesystem, showing the disks and gearing system.

FIG. 3 presents a zoomed perspective posterior view of the gearingsystem.

FIG. 4 details the circular structural base (20) and the angled verticalbase (21) with lid (22) and (23).

FIG. 5 details the selection disk (V1) and the set of hollowed disks(B1, C1, D1 and E1).

FIG. 6 details the selection disk (V1) with the hollowed disk (B1), andthe FIG. 6A details the hollowed disk (E1) and seeding ramp (211).

FIG. 7 presents a zoomed posterior view of the structural base (20) andlid (22), and FIG. 7A shows the vacuum sealing system.

FIG. 8 presents a frontal view of the system with the coil details (73)and ejection gears (70).

FIG. 9 details the ejection gears (70) and the dispenser system foragricultural machinery.

FIG. 10 presents a zoomed posterior view of the system, highlighting theeliminators of double seeds (205 and 206).

FIG. 11 presents a frontal view of the selection disk (V1) with wavyedges (V4), and the hollowed disk (B1) with wavy edges (B5).

FIG. 12 presents a posterior view of the circular structural base (20)with the seed conveyor tube (80), and FIG. 12A presents a frontal viewof the circular structural base (20) with the seed conveyor tube (80).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The seed dispenser and conveyance system for agricultural machinery,object of the present invention, is composed of a chassis (10) thatsustains the circular structural base (20) containing a lid (22) and anangled vertical base (21) containing a protection lid (23); the circularstructural base (20) with lid (22) presents, on its upper part, a seedbox (30), a vacuum turbine (40) which feeds and generates suction in theseed dispenser through a vent (41) connected to the circular base (20),and a cut disk (50), uniformly distributing the seeds (60) in the soil.

The circular structural base (20) presents an internal selection disk(V1) with spaces (V2) that receive the seeds (60) from the seed box(30), and dents (V3), which transmit the movement to the hollowed gears(B1). The selection disk (V1) presents a wavy external edge (V4) whichfits the wavy edge (B5) of the gear (B1), allowing the selection disk(V1) to fit the exact space of the gear (B1), ensuring that the seeds(60) are conveyed from the selection disk (V1) to the gaps (B2) alongthe gear (B1), maintaining the operation synchronism of the seeddispenser and conveyance system.

The angled vertical base (21) presents an internal set of interconnectedhollowed gears (B1, C1, D1 and E1) which direct the seeds (60) from theselection disk (V1) to the seeding gap near the soil.

The hollowed gear (B1) presents a gap (B2) to receive the seeds from theselection disk (V1), a movement gear (B3) connected to the dents (V3)disposed in the selection disk (V1), which enable the hollowed disk (B1)and the gear (B4) to move, transmitting the movement to the disk (C1).The hollowed gear (B1) presents a wavy external edge (B5) which fits thewavy edge (V4) of the selection disk (V1), maintaining the operationsynchronism of the seed dispenser and conveyance system.

The hollowed gear (C1) present a gap (C2) to receive the seeds from thehollowed gear (B1), a movement gear (C3) connected to the dents (B4)disposed in the hollowed gear (B1), which enable the movement of thehollowed disk (C1), and a movement gear (C4), which transmits themovement to the gear (D1).

The hollowed gear (D1) presents a gap (D2) to receive the seeds from thehollowed gear (C1), a movement gear (D3) connected to the dents (C4)disposed in the hollowed gear (C1), which enable the movement of thehollowed gear (D1), and a movement gear (D4), which transmits themovement to the gear (E1).

The hollowed gear (E1) presents a gap (E2) to receive the seeds from thehollowed gear (D1), a movement gear (E3) connected to the dents (D4)disposed in the hollowed gear (D1), which enable the movement of thehollowed gear (E1), directing the seeds (60) to the seeding gap.

The circular structural base (20) presents, in its internal structure, apair of rubbers (201) with a variable fitting system (202) that allowsthe alteration of the point of release of the seeds for 6 hours.Furthermore, it presents a protrusion (203) that fits the lid (22),allowing for an easy fit, and on the front it presents a fit whole (204)for the pipes (41) from the vacuum turbine (40).

The lid (22) fits the circular structural base (20) through couplings(221), which are connected to the protrusions (203) of the base (20). Onthe posterior there is a fraction gear (222) with an activation bar(223), transmitting the movement to the selection disk (V1), providingmovement and activating the entire system.

The seed dispenser and conveyor system is activated through the tractiongear (222), which transmits the movement to the selection disk (V1)through an activation bar (223), performing the clockwise movement ofthe disk (V1).

Pipes (41) are attached to the posterior part of the circular structuralbase (20), connected from the vacuum turbine (40), which generatesvacuum suction inside the circular base (20) when attached to the lid(22), with the vacuum generated by a pair of rubbers (201). When theselection disk (V1) moves, it moves with its gaps (V2) between the pairof rubbers (201), positioning with the vacuum the seeds (60) from theseed box (30) in the gaps (V2) of the selection disk (V1), with thesuction generated by the vacuum turbine (40) fixing the seed (60) in thegap (V2) of the selection disk (V1).

The system presents eliminators of double seeds (205) and (206),disposed inside the base (2), releasing the sees one by one in the gaps(B2) of the hollowed gear (B1), presenting a dispensing position of 6hours, according to the setting of the variable fitting system (202).

The hollowed gear (B1), with a counter-clockwise movement, receives theseeds (60) in its gaps (B2) and directs them to the hollowed gear (C1).The disks (V1) and the gear (B1) present wavy edges (V4) and (B5), whichallow for the operation synchronism of the seed dispenser and conveyorsystem.

The hollowed gear (C1), with a clockwise movement, receives the seeds(60) in its gaps (C2) and directs them to the hollowed gear (D1).

The hollowed gear (D1), with a counter-clockwise movement, receives theseeds (60) in its gaps (D2) and directs them to the hollowed gear (E1).

The hollowed gear (E1), with a clockwise movement, receives the seeds(60) in its gaps (E2) and directs them to the seeding ramp (211), withapproximately 50 mm of the seeding groove in the soil, with uniformdistancing and distribution.

The seeding ramp (211) presents a coil mechanism (212) to place theseeds, enabling the uniform release with the correct seeding space.

The hollowed gears (B1, C1, D1 and E1) present ejection gears (70) inthe internal part of each disk, with the ejection gears (70) fitting thegaps (B2, C2, D2 and E2) of the gears (B1, C1, D1 and E1), preventingthe seeds from remaining stuck and not being conveyed to the seedingramp (211) with a coil (212).

The seed conveyor (71) is attached to the ejection gears (70), beingconnected to the gear (70) by the coupling arm (72), with both the gear(70) and the conveyor (71) pressed to remain in their position by thecoil (73) and the support ejection gear (74), transferring all the seedsfrom the hollowed gears (B1, C1, D1 and E1) to the seeding ramp (211).

Alternatively, the number of hollowed gears (B1, C1, D1 and E1) may bevaried according to the need and space of the seeding machinery, andsome gears may be added or removed, but they must be synchronized withthe selection disk (V1).

Alternatively, the seed dispenser and conveyance system allows theangled base (21) with hollowed gears (B1, C1, D1 and E1) to be replacedby a seed conveyor tube (80), attached to the circular structural base(20) with a selection disk (V1). For this system to function, it uses aseed conveyor with self-adjustable pressure (81), allowing the seeds tobe released in the very center of the conveyor tube (80). In order touse this system, it is necessary to adjust the variable fitting system(202) disposed near the rubbers (201) of the circular base (20),adjusting the vacuum cut in 5 hours, reducing the free-fall height ofthe seeds in approximately 150 mm to the soil, with less rebound and abetter seed distribution, according to the descriptions of FIGS. 12 and12A.

1. Seed dispenser and conveyance system for agricultural machinery,composed of a chassis (10) supporting a circular structural base (20)with lid (22), and an angled vertical base (21) with lid (23), in theupper part of the base (20), containing a seed box (30), a vacuumturbine (40) and a cutting disk (50), with the system activated by a bar(223) and gear (222) which rotate, in a clockwise movement, theselection disk (V1) with gaps (V2), movement transmission dents (V3) andwavy external edge (V4); the selection disk (V1) transmits the movementto the hollowed gear (B1), which moves in a counter-clockwise movementwith gaps (B2), gear (B3), movement gear (B4) and synchronism wavyexternal edge (B5) with the selection disk (V1); the hollowed gear (B1)transmits the movement to the hollowed gear (C1), which moves in aclockwise movement, with gaps (C2), gear (C3) and movement transmissiongear (C4); the hollowed gear (C1) transmits the movement to the hollowedgear (D1), which moves in a counter-clockwise movement, with gaps (D2),gear (D3) and movement transmission gear (D4); the hollowed gear (D1)transmits the movement to the hollowed gear (El), which moves in aclockwise movement, with gaps (E2) and movement gear (E3), conveying theseeds (60) to the seeding ramp (211); the vacuum pump (40) with pipes(41) attached to the fit hole (204) of the circular structural base (20)generates vacuum suction inside the base (20) when attached to the lid,with the vacuum generated between a pair of rubbers (201), placing theseeds in the gaps (V2) of the disk (V1).
 2. Seed dispenser andconveyance system for agricultural machinery, according to claim 1,characterized by having ejection gears (70) inside each hollowed gear,with the ejection gears (70) fitting the gaps (B2, C2, D2 and E2) of thegears (B1, C1, D1 and E1), preventing the seeds from remaining stuck andnot being conveyed to the seeding ramp (211).
 3. Seed dispenser andconveyance system for agricultural machinery, according to claim 1,characterized by having, close to the seeding ramp (211), a coilmechanism (212) for seed (60) positioning, allowing for the uniformrelease during seeding.
 4. Seed dispenser and conveyance system foragricultural machinery, according to claim 1, characterized by having apair of rubbers (201) inside the circular base (20), with a variablefitting system (202) that permits the alteration of the point of seedrelease for 5 or 6 hours.
 5. Seed dispenser and conveyance system foragricultural machinery, according to claim 1, characterized by having anoptional variable number of hollowed gears (B1, C1, D1 and E1),according to the seeder machinery needs and space, which may be done byadding or removing some gears, with the need, however, to keep themsynchronized with the selection disk (V1).
 6. Seed dispenser andconveyance system for agricultural machinery, according to claim 1,characterized by the optional fact of allowing the angled vertical base(21) with hollowed gears (B1, C1, D1 and E1) to be replaced by a seedconveyor tube (80) with a seed placement system with self-adjustablepressure (81), being necessary to adjust the vacuum cut in 5 hours inthe pair of rubbers (201).